Synopses & Reviews
There are an estimated 30 million GPS receivers (GPSrs) currently in use in the civilian market. These receivers come in a variety of forms, from hand-held receivers, in-car systems, add-on devices for hand help computers and embedded receivers in other devices (such as watches and cell phones). The user manuals explain the basic functions of the GPS system, but they don’ t go into any detail about the finer points of the technology, and they don’ t tell users how to modify it, tweak it, and hack it in order to become power users and get the most out of a GPS system. These documents don’ t want to reveal how to take a GPS to new levels! Hacking GPS does that and more! It offers the following coverage that no other title on the market details:
· Hardware Hacks – Secret keycodes, hidden features, building power cords and cables, hacking the battery, hacking the antenna, mounting your GPS, protecting it from impact and falls, making a screen protector, and solar powering your GPS.
· Software Hacks – Hacking the firmware, hacking into your PC Connection with a GPS, and COM or USB
· Data Hacking – Software needs – free and commercial, creating data, waypoints, screenshots, troubleshooting, and more data tricks
· Playtime – GPS Games, Hacking Geocaching, and use your GPS as a Metal Detector
· Any potentially dangerous mod (from the point of view of the device) will be clearly labeled and precautions to take listed.
· How to get a deeper understanding of how receivers work and how to get more out of them than the manufacturers want the users to!
· Hardware that the readercan build to increase the function, performance or power of their GPS.
Hacking GPS fills the void that the manuals leave by giving the GPS user the information they need in order to get the most out of their investment - by hacking the system and taking a look at all of the super cool tweaks that can be done to/with a GPS.
Synopsis
* This is the "user manual" that didn't come with any of the 30 million GPS receivers currently in use, showing readers how to modify, tweak, and hack their GPS to take it to new levels!
* Crazy-cool modifications include exploiting secret keycodes, revealing hidden features, building power cords and cables, hacking the battery and antenna, protecting a GPS from impact and falls, making a screen protector, and solar-powering a GPS
* Potential power users will take the function and performance of their GPS to a whole new level by hacking into the firmware and hacking into a PC connection with a GPS
* Fear not! Any potentially dangerous mod (to the device) is clearly labeled, with precautions listed that should be taken
* Game time! Readers can check out GPS games, check into hacking geocaching, and even use a GPS as a metal detector
Synopsis
You'll get lost in this book, but nowhere else
Your GPS is a really cool toy, but what if you could make it even cooler? What if you could build and hook up data cables, modify your iPAQ cradle to take a GPS connection, tweak the firmware, hook up to your PC without expensive software, use GPS data in a hundred creative ways, even solar-power your GPS? Suppose you could beef up your "first to find" quotient when geocaching, or use your GPS as a super-accurate clock. Well, you can. Read onyour adventure is just beginning!
Here's how to soup up your GPS
Covers both Garmin and Magellan models
- Crack the secret codes
- Build auxiliary battery packs
- Navigate with your GPS
- Make power and data cables
- Sharpen your signal
- Keep firmware update
- Hack out a PC connectio
- Create and load dat
- Grab screenshots on the move
- Set up an atomic clock
- Customize GPS games
- Discover paper-free geocaching
Synopsis
* Game time Readers can check out GPS games, check into hacking geocaching, and even use a GPS as a metal detector
About the Author
Kathie Kingsley-Hughes has authored several technical/programming books and contributes regularly to a variety of forums on GPS and other high-tech outdoor devices. A zealous hiker, backpacker, and geocacher, she is rarely seen without her GPS (and usually a digital camera, spare batteries, sleeping bag, and similar survival gear!)
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
Part I: Hardware Hacks.
Chapter 1: GPS Secrets.
Chapter 2: Building GPS Data Cables and Power Cords.
Chapter 3: Power Hacks.
Chapter 4: Antenna Hacks.
Chapter 5: Protecting Your GPS.
Part II: Software Hacks.
Chapter 6: Hacking the Firmware.
Chapter 7: Making Connections.
Part III: Data Hacking.
Chapter 8: GPS Data.
Chapter 9: Examining the Data.
Chapter 10: More Data Tricks.
Part IV: Playtime.
Chapter 11: Hacking Geocaching.
Chapter 12: GPS Games.
Appendix A: GPS Primer.
Appendix B:Websites/Internet Resources.
Glossary.
Index.